Frank Gardner (1)

Frank Gardner spent years as a foreign correspondent, travelling to some of the world’s most embattled areas. In 2004 he was shot six times by Al-Qaeda sympathisers, and his cameraman died in the same assault. Since then he has been the BBC’s Security Correspondent. He does, therefore, know his stuff when it comes to the interaction of the various intelligence agencies, and it shows in this novel.

The pace is fairly furious, with the action moving between London, North Korea and the more show more remote reaches of the Colombian rain forest. The pace never lags, and his protagonist, Luke Carlton (formerly in the Special Boat Service and now on contract to MI6) is eminently resourceful. The book is, however, rooted in realism, despite the hectic pace at which the plot develops, and pays attention to current themes such as rendition and what means are legally acceptable for the intelligence and enforcement services, even when faced with the potentially greatest threats to national security. While the pace if fairly furious, and action abounds, I felt it still veered more towards the le Carre school of espionage writing than that of Ian Fleming. Gardner lacks the measure and glorious cadence of le Carre’s purple prose, of course, but then who doesn’t?

Very entertaining, and I look forward to Carlton’s next outing. show less

As a respected journalist and the BBC’s Security correspondent, Frank Gardner certainly knows his material. His first novel, Crisis, introduced Luke Carlton, formerly an officer in the Royal marines and then the Special Boat Service, who was recruited to help MI6 on a special operation against South American drug cartels. Carlton emerged from that escapade as clearly resolute, robust and brave, characteristics which might also readily be applied to Gardner and his uncompromising show more journalism.

Unfortunately, while Carlton retains those characteristics in Ultimatum, the principal attribute that I discerned this time around was his irredeemable woodenness, matched only by the turgidity of the writing and the general implausibility of the plot. Carlton now finds himself formally recruited into MI6, and assigned to an urgent operation to discover the extent of nuclear weapon research and development in Iran.

I wonder whether Gardner was struggling to meet as publication deadline, and decided to try and palm off an early draft on the publisher. Certainly no espionage novel cliché was knowingly overlooked, and what I had hoped might be an appealing series seems to have stalled at the start of the second lap. show less

This is a fine modern spy thriller. Luke Carlton is a new MI6 agent having spent several years as a Royal Marine and member of the SBS. Circumstance places him in Iran during a major high profile kidnapping and he must help coordinate an SBS rescue mission. As always, things go wrong, things go right.

Frank Gardner presents us with an exciting chase-cum-rescue story set in a very modern political environment. Luke Carlton is a believable hero and we do get to see inside his character more show more than most. Gardner is especially strong on the levels of self-doubt and moral uncertainty that must always follow spies as they manipulate others to achieve their goals. The action scenes set in Iran are weakened by a very light touch in describing the people, institutions and culture that have to be negotiated - we never really feel the menace.

By far the best scenes are those set in the political corridors of London - surely Frank Gardner's strong suit given his day job of BBC Security Correspondent - and we are treated to what must be some realistic discussions between politicians, spies and military men all vying to do their part, perhaps at the expense of the others.

I would recommend this as a holiday read that entertains from start to finish even though the action sequences lack a little oomph and there are some unresolved plot holes (perhaps to be addressed in later volumes?). show less

It’s kind of amazing how Frank Gardener learnt Arabic when no-one in the UK bothered much, became a high powered investment banker and then made the transition to journalism. Then he is nearly killed by AlQueda while filming in Saudi. And comes back from this as a paraplegic and resumes his journalist career. There is so much great about this book. His understanding of the different cultures within theM Middle East; his lack of bitterness about his attack, his account of bring an show more international journalist ( must admit I skipped the banking bit but I am sure that was great too.). But what impressed me the most was his blow-by-blow story of coming to terms with his disability having been able-bodied. show less